Oh My God It's Full Of Sims!

Update 02/10/2011: Added mainhood version of downtown, uploaded fixed La Fiesta Tech (fixed Mickey Dosser's face), plus clarified that the base game main hoods will still function with base game only.

At last, I've finished the project I've been working on for a while. New, even cleaner versions of the EAxis neighbourhoods, both as normal neighbourhoods and subhood templates! Now you can build your own uberhood exactly to your liking, no M&G Stuff Pack required!

Also, just to make it clear, the main 'hoods can also be used on their own, as cleaner, better versions of the originals. Just dump them in your Neighborhoods folder (after deleting the old one(s)) and play. :)

There's a lot of information here, so bear with me.

First of all, how are these different from the previous versions (aside from the subhood versions)? The two big things are that all the sims with broken face templates and similar oddities have been fixed, and that I've cleaned up all the marriage and love flags between a living sim and a dead sim. Now Brandi Broke and Timothy Riley and all the rest of them should be able to remarry in everyone's games. There's also a whole bunch of little details, like memories and relationships and such that I missed the first time, AND I've run Mootilda's excellent HoodChecker on them all (it's still in testing, which I've been helping with, so it's not available for download yet), getting rid of leftover stuff that I couldn't do in SimPE. Oh, and if you go to the graveyard lot in Belladonna Cove, you'll be in for a little surprise...

There is no subhood version of Belladonna Cove yet, because I ran into some problems with that one. If I manage to fix it later, I'll upload it. If not... you'll just have to live with Belladonna Cove being your main hood, if you want to include it. There is one now! But it requires M&G. Read more below. 06/07/11: Shopping district version also available.

All the subhoods are shopping districts/suburbs. This means that OFB is required. I didn't think it made sense to make any of the small towns into a downtown. Belladonna Cove would be the exception to this, but like I said, that didn't work out...

Before we get to the 'hood downloads:

REQUIRED DOWNLOAD:In order to have all the subhood templates available to you when you add a subhood ingame, you'll need THIS MOD by Mootilda. Only the shopping district one is necessary, but I recommend getting all of them.

RECOMMENDED DOWNLOADS:Pescado's mods, particularly the ones that prevent spawning of massive amounts of townies, NPCs and strays.Squinge's mod that prevents memory loss for townies and NPCs. If you install this before playing Pleasantview, Bella Goth won't lose her memories (nor will other townies or unplayable characters).

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I have only tested these in my own game with all EPs and M&G Stuff installed, so let me know if you have problems getting them to work if you have a different configuration (as long as it falls within the requirements listed).

MediaFire is difficult at times, so if you have problems getting the downloads to start etc, clear out your cache and try again in a while. However, if the links are broken, or the .rar files are corrupted, please let me know.

If you have the collection packs instead of the regular Open For Business, use this path instead of the one listed below: /-INSTALL LOCATION-/The Sims 2 Best of Business Collection/EP3/TSData/Res/NeighborhoodTemplate

MAIN HOODS:

First, remove any existing copies of the 'hood(s) you intend to use. Note that this only applies to the main hood. You can have as many copies of the subhoods as you want, just like with Bluewater Village or Downtown.

There has been some confusion about this part, so: Putting the main neighbourhoods in the install location is only necessary if you want to be able to start your game over by deleting your Documents\Neighborhoods folder and having the game automatically copy my templates into your newly generated folder instead of the default templates. Otherwise, just stick them straight in Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods.

PleasantviewRequires: Needs University or a later EP for 'first woohoo' memory but will still function with only base game!Install instructions: Put directly in your Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods folder AND/OR put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods folder. If you choose the latter, make sure you take backups of your existing templates first. You'll need to regenerate the Neighborhoods folder in Documents for the new 'hoods to show up.

StrangetownRequires: Needs University or a later EP for 'first woohoo' memory but will still function with only base game!Install instructions: Put directly in your Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods folder OR your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods folder. If you choose the latter, make sure you take backups of your existing templates first. You'll need to regenerate the Neighborhoods folder in Documents for the new 'hoods to show up.

VeronavilleRequires: Needs University or a later EP for 'first woohoo' memory but will still function with only base game!Install instructions: Put directly in your Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods folder OR your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods folder. If you choose the latter, make sure you take backups of your existing templates first. You'll need to regenerate the Neighborhoods folder in Documents for the new 'hoods to show up.

Riverblossom HillsRequires: SeasonsInstall instructions: Put directly in your Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods folder OR your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Seasons\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods folder. If you choose the latter, make sure you take backups of your existing templates first. You'll need to regenerate the Neighborhoods folder in Documents for the new 'hoods to show up.

Desiderata ValleyRequires: Free TimeInstall instructions: Put directly in your Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods folder OR your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 FreeTime\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods folder. If you choose the latter, make sure you take backups of your existing templates first. You'll need to regenerate the Neighborhoods folder in Documents for the new 'hoods to show up.

Belladonna CoveRequires: Apartment LifeInstall instructions: Put directly in your Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods folder OR your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Apartment Life\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods folder. If you choose the latter, make sure you take backups of your existing templates first. You'll need to regenerate the Neighborhoods folder in Documents for the new 'hoods to show up. I recommend using the first option for this one, though, because:CAUTION:Short explanation: If you want to keep all the gravestones for the dead sims, please make sure Belladonna Cove is the ONLY neighbourhood in your Documents\...\Neighborhoods folder when you first start the game. Go into the 'hood, and load Gamesend Grounds. Save the lot. Now you can exit the game and add your other neighbourhoods back in.Long explanation: EA seems to have intended Belladonna Cove to have a full graveyard. There is a community lot called Gamesend Grounds which is obviously intended to be a cemetery, and as Mootilda discovered with her HoodChecker, all the dead sims have urnstone tokens floating around. The problem is that all of these (except Olivia Riley's grave, which shows up at the art museum) point to a non-existent lot. I was able to fix this with the HoodChecker, and move them to point to Gamesend Grounds instead, but because the lot needs to be loaded for them to actually be "delivered", they're sort of in limbo at the moment. If Belladonna Cove's IDNO changes to anything but 1, which it will if there is a neighbourhood with that IDNO currently in your game (very likely), the tombstones seem to disappear. For the same reason, I recommend that you make sure all your tombstones in your existing hoods are safely delivered to a lot before you do any of this. If you're curious, this is what I had problems with when trying to make a subhood version of BDC, too.The "This was all way too technical for me and I don't really care about the tombstones" explanation: No big deal. Just follow the normal install instructions. You might lose the tombstones, but nothing else bad will happen. Outdated information. Gravestones are a bit iffy. Use Mootilda's HoodChecker if your gravestones go missing in any neighbourhood, it will usually be able to sort it out.

Bluewater VillageNow you can use Bluewater Village as your main neighourhood if you'd like!Requires: Open For BusinessInstall instructions: Put directly in your Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods folder OR your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods folder. You'll need to regenerate the Neighborhoods folder in Documents for the new 'hoods to show up. I haven't tested option 2, but it should work.

DowntownNow you can use Downtown as your main neighourhood if you'd like! Note: It will no longer function as a downtown (with downtownies etc).Requires: NightlifeInstall instructions: Put directly in your Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods folder OR your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2\TSData\Res\UserData\Neighborhoods folder. You'll need to regenerate the Neighborhoods folder in Documents for the new 'hoods to show up. I haven't tested option 2, but it should work.

WARNING: Because of silly EAxis coding, ONLY THE FIRST DOWNTOWN ADDED TO A NEIGHBOURHOOD WILL HAVE SIMS ADDED WITH IT. That means that if you add the regular downtown first, and then Belladonna Cove, BDC WILL NOT HAVE ANY PLAYABLES. And vice verca, if you add BDC first, I don't believe there will be any Tricous. I'm sorry for the inconvenience!

Belladonna CoveI had to move out all the families that lived in apartments for this to work. You can just move them back in, though, and use either the debug option or Pescado's apartment hack to rent the apartments furnished. Requires M&G because I had to open up the 'hood to edit it. Sorry. There will be graves in the graveyard! Remember that Olivia Riley's grave is at the museum.Requires: Nightlife + Apartment Life + Mansion & Garden StuffInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Nightlife\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder.

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SHOPPING DISTRICTS:

ATTN: It's important to remember that when merging in a subhood, the game will randomize all townie and service NPC names! That means Meadow Thayer, Kaylynn Langerak, Crystal Vu, and even Bella Goth, will all get different names. You'll have to fix this with an ingame tool like the Sim Blender, or SimPE.

Only Pleasantview (and a couple of stealth hoods, more on that later) contains "unnecessary" unplayables (that have no relationships to any playable sims), the rest only have unplayables that are somehow linked to playables, businesses, etc. This is also true for the main hood versions.

Bluewater VillageRequires: Open For BusinessInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder. Make sure you take a backup of your existing template first.

PleasantviewRequires: Open For BusinessInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder.

Pleasantview without TowniesWhat it says - Pleasantview as a subhood, but without any townies (except Kaylynn Langerak and Gordon King).Requires: Open For BusinessInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder.

StrangetownRequires: Open For BusinessInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder.

Strangetown with no Bella GothIn case you want to merge it with Pleasantview, and you only want one Bella Goth.Requires: Open For BusinessInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder.

VeronavilleRequires: Open For BusinessInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder.

Riverblossom HillsRequires: Open For Business + SeasonsInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder.

Desiderata ValleyRequires: Open For Business + Free TimeInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder.

Belladonna CoveI had to move out all the families that lived in apartments for this to work. You can just move them back in, though, and use either the debug option or Pescado's apartment hack to rent the apartments furnished. Requires M&G because I had to open up the 'hood to edit it. Sorry. There will be graves in the graveyard! Remember that Olivia Riley's grave is at the museum.Requires: Open for Business + Apartment Life + Mansion & Garden StuffInstall instructions: Put in your -INSTALL LOCATION-\The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate folder.

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STEALTH HOODS:

If you want to use these for your neighbourhood, they will need to be put into your game folders before you load the game and the 'hood for the first time. Most of them only have the playables, but the Pets stealth hood also has all the strays and adoptables, and the Seasons stealth hood has the Garden Club sims.

I cleaned up the genetics, memories and pet ages of the Kat & Kim families, and repackaged them. I have no idea what these require in addition to Pets, but it's very possible you'll need at least Mansion & Garden Stuff to make them work.

...Whew. That's a lot of text. I've probably made a few typos and I'm sure at least one of the links was pasted incorrectly or something like that, but I'm too tired to proofread much right now. Let me know if there's any problems. And enjoy. :)

This is a lot of stuff to look into. Gonna do so when I've got more time, but thank you!

A question though: do I still have to follow the instructions about the 'clean templates' at More Awesome Than You? (zipping up stuff and replacing and such?) I'm a bit confused about what you mean by 'removing' copies.

Yes, you do. Most of these are replacement templates. :) The only exception is when you put the main 'hoods directly into your Documents\...\Neighborhoods folder, but even then you have to take out any previous versions of the neighbourhoods you might have in there, otherwise you'll overwrite them and that will make them explode, basically. :P

I really wanted to have an uberhood, but I was so annoyed that many of them had all neighborhoods when I only wanted Pleasantview and Strangetown merged together. I'm so glad I found this! Thank you soo soo much!

At this time I don't plan on attemtping to make these without the playables. To do so cleanly and safely would be a lot of work. The easiest way would be to just copy the lots to your bin, after moving the occupants out, and move them to a new neighbourhood. I think there also might be empty templates with the houses on MATY, but I've never tested these so I'm not sure what they're like.

Okay. So I was super excited about this! And I THOUGHT I did everything right but I seem to be having a dilemma.

I downloaded the Strangetown and Veronaville shopping district packages and for some odd reason they aren't showing up to be added as shopping districts, Riverblossom, Desiderata and Bluewater all show up to be added except for Strangetown and Veronaville. I have double checked and triple checked to make sure I put them in the OFB folders.

I took out Pleasentview and replaced it with your's and I took out Strangetown and Veronaville but didn't replace it with your's because I'm under the impression that your not supposed to. Is that where I went wrong? I'm slightly getting confused and feel like I'm missing something >.>

I also downloaded the stealth folders...even though I'm not really sure as to what they do! :O Was I supposed to do that? Or did I royally screw up my game??

Hmm. I assume you put ST and VV in \The Sims 2 Open For Business\TSData\Res\NeighborhoodTemplate along with the others.

What EPs do you have?

It doesn't sound like you've done anything wrong. The stealth 'hoods are fine to download, they just replace your existing stealth 'hoods. They're nicknamed "stealth" hoods because they automatically add themselves to every new neighbourhood you create. That's when it says things like 'Creating Pets, Creating Weather, Creating Magic when your 'hood is loading. They contain families like Cyd Roseland and the Ottomas family.

Anyway, that's not your problem here... Let me know what EPs you have, and I'll get back to you.

In answer to your question, it does not. I considered their relation to him to be a mistake, seeing as it only went one way (teens to John Tricou, but neither he nor his family members recognize the teens as family). I've considred making another version with them in, but I don't know if I'll get around to that or not. Anyway, they're fairly simple to extract and add in with some little SimPE-adjustments. Keep in mind that at least one of them has a borky face template (the gothy kid).

Thank you so much for putting this together. I just installed everything and it's working perfectly. I've never really played with the playable before mainly because I could decide which town to start with. Now, I don't have to choose! Well, there is a bit of choosing but, you get what I mean. :p

I do have a quick question. Some of the other megahoods I have seen (mostly older stuff) warn against creating a custom shopping district if you already have Bluewater Village. I didn't see a similar warning in your post, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

My question is can I make another custom subhood without my game exploding? xD

In answer to your question: Yes! You can add as many subhoods as you want. :) The reason older megahoods come with warnings about adding more shopping districts (or downtowns) is that they were made in a very "hacky" way, before better methods were found.

With these templates, there's no trickery involved, they work just like Bluewater Village.

I hope this isn't a stupid question. I haven't tested this yet, and I was just wondering, is "the real Bella Goth" included in Pleasantview? Or does the Strangetown version have her memories and relationships, because I know it originally doesn't. Would I have to go into simPE to make her selectable and edit her memories and relationships?

The "real" Bella Goth, with memories and relationships to the rest of the Goths, exists only in Pleasantview (all versions above).

The Strangetown version does not have any memories or relationships - she cannot, because there aren't any Goths in Strangetown to link them to. That's why I made a version without her, for people who want to link Pleasantview and Strangetown together and only want to have the real Bella.

I haven't tested it myself, but as long as the main 'hoods are different, I see no reason why you can't have the subhoods in several different 'hoods at once. So you should be able to have a Pleasantview with Strangetown attached, and a Strangetown with Pleasantview attached, at the same time. I do know the game protests when you manually try to give any 'hood or subhood a name that's already used by a different 'hood or subhood, but hey, you can have several Bluewater Villages, so... Still, if you use something as both a main hood and a subhood elsewhere, it might be wise to name the subhood 'Strangetown subhood' or something.